RTI activist breaks fast after 21 days

Valsad-based RTI activist Ketan Shah finally broke his fast after 21 days on Saturday evening at the Civil Hospital,following assurance from the city BJP leaders to look into his demands.

Shah had gone on an indefinite hunger strike after Nagar Palika officials demolished his illegally constructed shop and allegedly harassed his relatives running business in Valsad town. This happened after he accused Nagarpalika president Raju Patel of encroaching upon government land and constructing bungalows there. He had even made representations to District Collector Nalin Thaker,but reportedly did not get proper response.

He had filed nearly 250 applications under the RTI Act,which reportedly suggested that some civic officials and other government officials were indulged in corrupt practices. Based on the RTI replies,two engineers Hitesh Patel and Sachin Kapadia working with the Nagarpalika were suspended. But later,the duo was reinstated.

On Saturday evening,Valsad city BJP president Harish Dave,party general secretary Sonal Solanki and other leaders visited him at the hospital and convinced him to break his fast. I am happy that after 21 days,BJP leaders gave me assurance to look into my demands. They also assured that they will look into the issue of illegal construction by Raju Patel and the reinstatement of the two engineers. I have also requested them to investigate and prove that my shop was illegally constructed. I have all the documents to prove that it was legal, Shah told The Indian Express.

BJP leader Dave said,We found that his condition was critical,so we went there and convinced him to break the fast. We have assured him that if Raju is found guilty,the party will take actions against him.

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